The Weird and Wonderful Star-Nosed Mole | 4K UHD | Mammals | BBC Earth

Summary

The star-nosed mole thrives underground with an intricate tunnel system, relying on its ultra-sensitive nose for both smell and touch, which is 100 times more sensitive than human fingertips. Despite being virtually blind, it consumes twice its body weight daily, feasting on worms that fall into its tunnels. Adapted for both digging and swimming, the mole navigates flooded tunnels in spring with large feet and a water-resistant coat. Uniquely, it can locate prey underwater by sniffing bubbles trapped in leaves, showcasing its dual life in soil and water.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Moist soil is easily navigable for the star-nosed mole, which has a network of tunnels just underground.
• 🐾 Despite being virtually blind, the star-nosed mole relies on its super-sensitive nose for both smelling and feeling, which is 100 times more sensitive than human fingertips.
• 🍽️ The mole must consume up to twice its body weight daily to sustain its active lifestyle, with worms falling into its tunnels as they burrow.
• 🌧️ During spring, heavy rains can flood the mole's tunnels, forcing it to hold its breath for more than 30 seconds and escape to the surface.
• 🏊‍♂️ The mole is well-adapted for swimming, with large feet that function as paddles and a water-resistant coat that keeps it warm.
• 👃 To hunt underwater, the mole blows bubbles into submerged leaves, sniffing them to detect edible prey by scent.
• 🌀 Star-nosed moles are unique among mammals for being equally comfortable in water and soil environments.
• 🌿 The mole's lifestyle is closely tied to the conditions of the soil, which can be both a benefit and a challenge depending on the season.
• 🔍 The mole's extraordinary olfactory capabilities allow it to effectively navigate and hunt in its subterranean home.
• 💨 The mole's survival during flooding events is a testament to its quick response and ability to hold its breath for a short time.
• 🌀 Adaptability is key for the star-nosed mole, as it must switch between digging and swimming to survive in its changing environment.

Q & A

What is the primary characteristic of the star-nosed mole's habitat?

The star-nosed mole's habitat is characterized by moist soil with an extensive network of tunnels just underground.

How does the star-nosed mole's sense of smell compare to human touch sensitivity?

The star-nosed mole's sense of smell is 100 times more sensitive than human fingertips.

What is the mole's daily dietary requirement in terms of body weight?

The star-nosed mole must consume up to twice its body weight in food every day to sustain its active lifestyle.

How do worms end up in the star-nosed mole's tunnels?

Worms fall into the mole's tunnels as they naturally burrow through the soil.

What happens to the mole's tunnels during spring torrential rains?

During spring torrential rains, the mole's tunnels become flooded with water.

How long can the star-nosed mole hold its breath underwater?

The star-nosed mole can hold its breath for a little over 30 seconds.

What adaptations does the star-nosed mole have for swimming?

The star-nosed mole has large feet that function as effective paddles and a water-resistant coat that keeps it warm, making it well-equipped for swimming.

How does the star-nosed mole detect prey underwater?

The mole blows bubbles into submerged leaves, and by sniffing these bubbles, it can detect edible prey underwater.

What makes the star-nosed mole unique among mammals?

The star-nosed mole is unique among mammals for being equally at home in both water and soil.

How does the star-nosed mole's nose function in its environment?

The star-nosed mole's nose functions not only for smelling but also for feeling, helping it navigate and find food in its environment.

What challenges does the star-nosed mole face during the spring season?

During spring, the star-nosed mole faces the challenge of its tunnels being flooded due to heavy rains, which requires it to swim and hold its breath.

Outlines

00:00

🐾 Star-Nosed Mole's Underground Life and Adaptations

The script introduces the star-nosed mole, a small mammal with an extraordinary sense of touch and smell. Despite its poor eyesight, the mole navigates through a network of tunnels it creates in moist soil, relying on its nose which is 100 times more sensitive than human fingertips. It consumes a diet of worms that fall into its tunnels. The mole's life underground is threatened by spring floods, which it survives by holding its breath and swimming, thanks to its large feet that function as paddles and a water-resistant coat. Uniquely, it can also hunt underwater by blowing bubbles into leaves to detect prey through their scent.

Keywords

💡Moist soil

Moist soil refers to soil that is damp or wet, which is easier to dig due to its soft texture. In the video, it is the environment where the star-nosed mole operates, highlighting the mole's ability to dig through such soil with ease. The script mentions 'Moist soil is easy to dig,' indicating the mole's preference for such conditions.

💡Tunnels

Tunnels are underground passages created by burrowing animals. In the context of the video, the star-nosed mole constructs a network of tunnels for its habitat and hunting grounds. The script describes the tunnels as 'a network of tunnels – the work of a particularly industrious little mammal,' emphasizing the mole's active role in creating its environment.

💡Star-nosed mole

The star-nosed mole is a species of mole characterized by its unique star-shaped nose. It is the main subject of the video, and its adaptations and behaviors are central to the narrative. The script introduces it as 'A star-nosed mole,' and its features and lifestyle are explored throughout the video.

💡Super-sensitive nose

A super-sensitive nose refers to an olfactory system that is highly developed and capable of detecting scents at much lower concentrations than a typical human nose. The star-nosed mole's nose is described as '100 times more sensitive than our own fingertips,' which is crucial for its hunting and navigation in the dark underground environment.

💡Active lifestyle

An active lifestyle denotes a way of living that involves a lot of physical activity. The star-nosed mole's active lifestyle is evident from its need to consume 'up to twice his body weight every day' to sustain its energy levels. This highlights the mole's high metabolism and the necessity for constant food intake.

💡Torrential rain

Torrential rain refers to very heavy rainfall that can cause flooding and other natural disasters. In the video, torrential rain is a seasonal challenge for the mole, as it 'saturates the soil' and 'flood[s] the mole's tunnels.' This event tests the mole's adaptability and survival skills.

💡Holding breath

Holding breath is the act of voluntarily not breathing for a period of time. The star-nosed mole's ability to hold its breath for 'little more than 30 seconds' is crucial when its tunnels flood, as it must surface for air and then return to its submerged tunnels.

💡Large feet

Large feet in the context of the video refer to the mole's large, paddle-like appendages that are adapted for digging and swimming. The script mentions that the mole's 'large feet, excellent for digging, also make very effective paddles,' illustrating the dual function of these limbs in the mole's life.

💡Water-resistant coat

A water-resistant coat is a type of fur that repels water, helping to keep the animal dry and warm. The star-nosed mole's coat is described as 'water-resistant,' which is essential for its ability to swim and maintain body temperature in wet conditions.

💡Sniffing out prey

Sniffing out prey refers to the act of using one's sense of smell to locate food. The star-nosed mole uses this technique both above and below water, as shown when it 'blows bubbles into the submerged leaves' to detect edible items. This ability is a key part of the mole's hunting strategy.

💡Aquatic adaptation

Aquatic adaptation refers to the physical and behavioral changes that enable an animal to live and thrive in water. The star-nosed mole's ability to swim and hunt underwater, as well as its water-resistant coat, are examples of its aquatic adaptations, making it 'one of the few mammals that are just as at home in the water as they are in soil.'

Highlights

Moist soil is easy for the star-nosed mole to dig.

Star-nosed moles have a network of tunnels underground.

These moles are virtually blind and rely on their super-sensitive noses.

Their noses are 100 times more sensitive than human fingertips.

Star-nosed moles must eat twice their body weight daily to sustain their active lifestyle.

Worms naturally fall into the moles' tunnels as they burrow.

Life underground is generally good for star-nosed moles.

Torrential rain in spring can flood the moles' tunnels.

Moles can only hold their breath for over 30 seconds, requiring them to surface or drown.

Star-nosed moles have large feet that are excellent for digging and swimming.

Their water-resistant coat keeps them warm and buoyant in water.

Moles detect prey underwater by blowing bubbles into submerged leaves and sniffing them.

Star-nosed moles can locate edible prey even when submerged.

They are one of the few mammals equally at home in water and soil.

Transcripts

Moist soil is easy to dig.

And just underground, there is a network of tunnels –

the work of a particularly industrious little mammal.

A star-nosed mole.

Virtually blind, he relies on his super-sensitive nose.

It's not just for smelling;

it's also for feeling.

And it is 100 times more sensitive

than our own fingertips.

To fuel his active lifestyle,

he must eat up to twice his body weight every day.

And worms, as they burrow,

simply drop into his tunnels of their own accord.

Life underground can be pretty good.

But every spring,

torrential rain saturates the soil.

Before long, the mole's tunnels are flooded.

He can hold his breath for little more than 30 seconds.

He must get out or he'll drown.

Made it.

But having taken a breath,

he dives straight back in.

Large feet, excellent for digging,

also make very effective paddles.

And his water-resistant coat keeps him warm.

So he's well-equipped for swimming.

But how do you sniff out prey underwater?

First, he blows bubbles into the submerged leaves.

Smells pass into them,

and sniffing them with his nose

enables him to detect something edible.

So he can locate possible prey

even underwater.

Star-nosed moles are one of the few mammals

that are just as at home in the water as they are in soil.